Steam-heating apparatus



July 20, 1926.

' F. J. DOUGLASS STEAM HEATING APPARATUS Filed June 18,. 1925 PatentedJuly 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES FRANK J. DOUGLASS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STEAM-HEATING AIPARATUS.

Application filed June 18, 1925. Serial No. 37,974.

My invention relates to vacuum steam heating systems or other steamheating systems employing` steam traps at the outlets of the radiators.It is the principal object of my invention to provide means wherebysolids of a character to float such as burnt core sand, grease, ormixtures of grease and sedimentary deposits, or other such scale orscum, shall be held back in the radiators so as not to be carried, atleast in any large quantities at a time, from the radiators into thesteam traps, valves and boiler where it may seriously affect the properoperation of the system- In a system employing a steam trap forcontrolling wholly or partially the entrance of the steam into theradiator by the automatic closurefof the outlet valve when anyappreciable amount of .steam begins to escape, it is very important thatthe heat sensitive parts be kept clean in order that the response of thevalve may be prompt and positive. Moreover, it is very important thatforeign matter be kept out of the pump and out of the boiler, so far aspossible. Regardless of any ordinary precautions which may be taken, aradiator almost always contains a quantity of rust, scale or otherforeign matter which forms a scum on the surface of the waterV standingin the bottom of the radiator. If this mattei' is permitted to passfreely through the outlet bushing, it is likely to interfere materiallywith the proper working of the syst-em.

It is accordingly the object of my invention, considered specifically,to provide an improve-d construction of outlet bushing which can beproperly installed without difficulty by -ordinary methods for takingthe water through a large opening from the desired point below thesurface of the wat-er, thus preventing the entrance of the scum on thesurface of the water, while'at the sametime providing a comparativelylarge opening for the steam above the level of the water.

It is another object of my invention to improve devices of this type insundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which Ihave accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing an-d are hereinafter specifically described. That which I believe to be new and desire to cover by this application is set forth inthe claims.

In the drawing:

F ig. 1 is a side view of a radiator equipped with my improved device.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail, being a central vertical section through afragmentary portion of the structure adjacent to the bushing.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of my improved bushing; and

Fig. 5y is a perspective View, .similar to Fig. 4, but showing amodified form of construction.

'Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, 10 indicates aradiator of any approved type, the radiator illustrated being providedwith a steam pipe llprovided with a valve 12. At its opposite end, theradiator is provided with a return pipe 13, equipped with a steam trap14 of any approved type comprising a valve which is adapted to open atintervals for permitting the escape of accumulated water and to closeagain promptly as soon as live steam begms to escape.v

The upper end of the return pipe 13 is connected to the radiator bymeans of a. bushing comprising a body 15 secured by means of screwthreads in the outlet opening of the radiator, the pipe 13, in turn,being` secured by meansof screw threads in a longitudinally extendingduct 16, which opens at the front face of the body. it the inner or rearend portion of the bushing, I have provided a transversely extendingduct 17 which is open at its ends both above and below the centralchamber provided by the longitudinally extendingfduct 16 and thetransversely extending duct 17. By reference particularly to Fig. 2, itwill be seen that the rear wall of the transversely ei:- tending ductcomprises an inmerforate band extending across from side to side of thebody at the level of the longitudinally ei:- tending duct, thearrangement being such that the said rear wall serves as a bailie platewith respect to the entrance of the water into and through the bushing.

In operation, with the parts in the position as shown in Fig. 2, inwhich position the level of the water in the radiator is controlled bythe position of the lowermost part of the opening through the pipe 13,the water ordinarily will enter the chamber of the bushing only at thelower' end oit the transversely extending duct I7 below the surface ofthe water, thus preventing 'the entrance of the torei gn mattei' fromthe surface of the water in the radiator. If for any reason the water iscaused to accumulate in the radiator aoove the level of the upper end ofthe vertically-extending duct l?, the scale is prevented 'from cloggingup the opening by reason oit its con'iparatively large size.

By the use of my construction in which two comparatively large openingsare provided at opposite sides of' the bushing so that the bushing canoperate eflectivelyin either of two adjustedl positions, it is alwayspossible to tighten the bushing effectively by turning it sullieientlyto bring the duct 17 into vertical position. This is in Contrast with aconstructie`l which can stand in only one position and which mustaccordingly at times be given almost a complete turn through threehundred andk sixty degrees beyond the normal tightening in order toreach the required operative position.

In the co-nstruction illustrated in Fig. 5, a central chamber orrec-ess19 is provided, with openings 20, 21 therefrom extending longitudinallyVofv the bushingV instead of radially. The construction is, however,siniilar to that above described in that they rear wall of' the chambercomprises a` continuous imperforate balile, extending across from sideto side ofthe body, with openings above and below the longitudinallyextending duct 1G, theV bushing being symmetricalwvith respect to thelongitudinal axis so as to permit of effective use of the bushing ineither of two positions adjusted 180 degrees apart.

By my invention, I haveprovided a construction adapted to stand ineither ofy two adjusted positions, being arranged so that.

in either position a baillek is provided for maintaining a certain waterlevel in the radiator and allowing the waterto outflow from the radiatorbelow the water level therein through a comparatively large openingwhile allowing the steam and air to outflow through a relatively largeopening located above the water level. By this means floating solids areretained in theV radiator, or at least are allowed to escape only insuch small'quantities as not to affeet the operation. of the trap, andthe free passage of water of condensation, air and will be understoodthat I do not wish to be limited thereto7 except as the same may bespecifically claimed, inasmuch as it is evident that changes could wellbe made in the details of construction without departing 'from thespirit of my invention.

I claim: i

l. In a steam heating system, the combination of a radiator, a steamtrap, and an outlet .fitting between the radiator and trap and connectedwith said radiator and tap comprising a member adapted to project intothe radiator above the bottom of the same and having a` horizontal porttherethrough and at its inner end. a vertical port communicating withand extending above and below the horizontal port, open at both ends andof such relatively large cross secm tional area from end to end as toallow free outflow of steam and to be incapable of being clogged by.solid matter in the condensate.

2. In a steam heating system, a radiator; a steam trap; and means`providing an outlet port. through whichr water of condensa tion, air andsteam may pass to said trap, which port is located above the bottom of'the radiator so that a body of water is maintained in the radiator, a`water discharge port leading to saidioutlet port at a distance below7the water level in the radiator, and an air and steamV discharge portleading to said outlet port at a distance above said water level, saidports being of such rela.- tively large cross sectional area, throughouttheir lengths, as to be incapable of cloggingv by sedimentary matter orscaling and to permit a free outflow of water of' condensation, air andsteam, whereby discharge otfloating solid matter in the water in theradiator is checked.

FRANK J. DOUGLASS.

